Ocean Freight Charges.—

Sec. 409. Ocean Freight Charges.— (a) In order to further the efficient use of United States voluntary contributions for relief and rehabilitation in nations and areas eligible for assistance under this Act, the President may pay ocean freight charges from United States ports to designated ports of entry of such nations and areas on shipments by United States voluntary nonprofit relief agencies registered with and approved by the Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid and shipments by the American Red Cross. (b) Where practicable the President shall make arrangements with the receiving nation for free entry of such shipments and for the making available by that nation of local currencies for the purpose of defraying the transportation cost of such shipments from the port, of entry of the receiving nation to the designated shipping point of the consignee. (c) There is hereby authorized to be appropriated to the President for the fiscal year 1955 not to exceed $4,400,000 to carry out the purposes of this section; and, in addition, unexpended balances of appropriations heretofore made pursuant to section 535 of the Mutual Security Act of 1951, as amended, are authorized to be continued available for the purposes of this section through June 30, 1955, and to be consolidated with the appropriation authorized in this section. (d) In addition, any funds made available under this Act may be used, in amounts determined by the President, to pay ocean freight charges on shipments of surplus agricultural commodities, including commodities made available pursuant to any Act for the disposal abroad of United States agricultural surpluses.